Not everyone is highly organised, but when you have to move into a new home, the more organised you are the better you will cope. That said, being organised doesn’t have to be difficult. Just like professional removalists do, if you write down a list of things to do and stick to doing them, you will be organised. The trick may be in knowing exactly what to do, especially if you have never moved before. Here is a list to help you.

Sort through your things and dispose of everything that you don’t want. This will make packing easier. Disposal can take time if you are selling things, so leave enough time to do it. Taking photos of the goods and writing descriptions if you sell online all take time too, which is why starting early is a good idea.

Make that phone call to book professional removalists early, making sure they have a truck large enough for your goods, insurance and a good reputation. Another phone call a week or two ahead just to confirm is also a good idea.

If you are renting your current home, you will need to start cleaning early in order to reduce stress and get your bond back. It is much easier to clean walls and cupboards well before moving day rather than leaving it all till the last minute. Don’t forget on top of the kitchen cupboards and in the groove of sliding windows and doors. That’s where the estate agents will look.

Weed the garden and tidy up the yard too.

Pack all those things that you don’t need, such as books, decorations and pictures, out of season clothing, crafts/hobbies and some of the children’s toys. Getting these packed toys back after moving will delight the children and keep them out of your hair while you unpack.

Pull down the swing/slides/trampoline and pack them away a few weeks ahead of moving date, especially if your children don’t use them much.

Phone the utilities to alert them to the date you are moving so that you will not be paying for someone else’s usage.

At the same time, make sure all the utilities will be switched on in your new home on the day before you arrive. This will give the hot water a chance to heat up if it is set to use off-peak power.

Notify anyone necessary about your change of address. These include businesses that you will continue to use, magazine subscriptions, relatives and friends.

Cancel your membership of sporting groups.

Arrange for children to attend a new school and if possible, get their uniforms ahead of time so they don’t feel different.

Look at your new area on a map so you have some idea where the shops and other essential places are.

Resources

A few years ago, when Nicole Tsao and her husband moved into the Bonny Doon home that had belonged to her mother, she knew that she wanted to grow plenty of fresh organic vegetables and herbs. However, the site offered some pretty hefty challenges, in the form of hungry deer, many gophers and rocky clay […]

If you are interested in the plant collections at the Arboretum and Botanic Garden at the University of California, Santa Cruz, you could learn about them from a new series of talks by the Arboretum's curators. These professional horticulturists have been longtime developers of the respective gardens for which they have been dedicated for quite […]